Chapter 2

Marco looked furious.

He hated losing control more than anything.

That had been true five years ago, and it was still true now.

"The divorce was only to save her. It didn't mean I stopped wanting you."

He said it like it was self-evident.

I could not help laughing.

"So you thought I'd stay right where you left me and wait for five years?"

"At the very least, you shouldn't have hidden my child from me."

"I told you, she isn't yours."

Mia lifted her little face. "I already have a daddy."

Marco looked down at her and actually softened his voice. "Your mommy is angry with me. That's why she says that."

Mia hid behind my leg.

Livia stepped forward as if she were trying to help.

"Let it go. She's little. Don't frighten her. Elena, if you really need money, I happen to have an opening for a personal assistant."

She looked at the mud-spotted volunteer badge on my chest.

"The pay would be good. Certainly more respectable than temping on the docks."

"Livia." Marco laughed quietly. "You're too soft-hearted."

I had no interest in playing along.

The port's north section still needed a final safety inspection that day. Adrian had planned to come with me, but an emergency board meeting pulled him away. I had promised to keep Mia in the volunteer area and stay clear of the construction line.

Running into those two was bad enough. Worse, Marco was there to bid on the new harbor's cold-chain logistics contract.

The Bellini family's business had been declining for years, and he needed access to the Moretti docks.

And he clearly did not know I had been a Moretti for four years.

I was not going to explain it there.

"Mia, we're going."

She came along without a fuss.

As we neared the rest area, she said softly, "Mommy, I'm thirsty."

The Moretti family kept a private lounge in the construction zone, stocked with children's supplies. I let us in with my keycard and settled Mia on the sofa.

"Give me two minutes. I'll get you some water next door."

But when I came back, a crowd had gathered outside the door.

Livia was inside, gripping Mia by the wrist.

"I only wanted to look at her bracelet and she bit me."

Mia's face was red from crying. "She's trying to take what Daddy gave me!"

It was a thin silver chain bearing the old Moretti crest. Adrian did not like children wearing expensive jewelry, so he had a craftsman make two plain little tags, one for each child.

Livia clearly did not recognize it.

A red ring had formed around Mia's wrist beneath Livia's fingers.

I crossed the room and knocked Livia's hand away.

"Don't touch my daughter."

Livia stumbled back, her eyes immediately welling with tears.

"I was only trying to be kind—"

"Does your kindness usually leave finger marks?"

Before she could finish, Marco rushed in.

He saw the bite mark Mia had left on the back of Livia's hand, then saw me shielding my daughter. His first instinct was not to ask what had happened.

It was to grab my shoulder.

"What are you making a scene about now?"

That sentence was word for word the same as five years ago.

I shoved him off.

Marco froze for a beat. Then his anger flared.

"Elena!"

"She touched the child first."

"Livia would never hurt a small child on purpose."

"So those marks around Mia's wrist just appeared on their own?"

Marco looked down, saw the ring of red, and something in his expression finally moved.

Livia burst into tears. "I only thought the chain looked like one Marco gave me years ago, and I wanted a closer look. She bit me out of nowhere, and I held on tighter without thinking... I'm sorry. I didn't realize she was so shy around strangers."

With one sentence, she turned theft into a misunderstanding.

As expected, Marco's brow eased.

"You hear that? It was a misunderstanding."

All at once, my anger vanished.

Five years ago, I would have fought his favoritism, forced him to examine the evidence, and demanded to know why he did not believe me.

Now I only wanted to leave.

"Move."

"You're not going anywhere."

Marco blocked the door. "This is a Moretti private lounge. Where did you get that keycard?"

Only then did Livia seem to take in the room. Her gaze moved slowly over everything around us.

Adrian's personal folder sat on the table and his coat hung by the wall.

Her expression changed.

"Elena, you aren't... here waiting for Mr. Moretti, are you?"

The insinuation in her voice made several nearby contractors turn to look at me.

I could not be bothered to explain. I pulled out my phone to call security.

Marco snatched the phone out of my hand.

"What exactly are you doing?"

"Give it back."

"Answer me first."

I reached for it. He stepped back and the phone slipped out of his hand and hit the stone floor hard.

The screen shattered completely.

Mia started crying in fright.

That snapped the last thread of my patience.